LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
to reconsider the layoff of hundreds of station agents in New York City

WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is planning to
lay off approximately 500 employees in New York City starting this week
in response to its current financial problems; and
WHEREAS, Several hundred station agents employed by the MTA will lose
their jobs; station agents are the key personnel who help riders in the
event of an emergency; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to use secu-
rity cameras and buzzers to help passengers in distress to compensate
for the absence of laid-off station agents in several highly-used subway
stations in New York City; and
WHEREAS, This reduction of the MTA's workforce will impact the securi-
ty - and sense of security - for the thousands who ride the subways
regularly, and have started to feel safer visiting New York City since
September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, The need for continued responsiveness by station agents and
other MTA employees to ensure the safety and security of those who ride
New York City's subways and buses was demonstrated this week by an
attempted car bomb explosion in Times Square; and
WHEREAS, Layoffs are a drastic response to financial difficulties that
rip apart the security of affected employees and their families; and
WHEREAS, The layoff of hundreds of MTA employees will have a downward
effect on New York City's economy and government by taking away the
ability of workers to support local businesses and provide tax revenues,
and may force many onto public assistance; and
WHEREAS, The layoffs will also increase the unemployment rolls in New
York City, which currently has an unemployment rate of 10% which is
higher than the rest of the state, and which also has an unemployment
rate of 38.7% for African-Americans and 23% for Hispanics; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as the country's
largest urban transportation system, has built an excellent reputation
for responding to the needs of its riders and making New York City easy
to get around by mass transit which helps the local economy by constant-
ly bringing thousands of visitors to New York City each year; and
WHEREAS, The MTA's good reputation is due in large part to the dedi-
cation and quality work performed by MTA station agents and other
employees; and
WHEREAS, Station agents can play an active role as partners with the
MTA to curb the loss of $27 million in revenues from turnstile jumping,
as such loss was reported in a recent MTA audit; and
WHEREAS, The MTA's workforce is one of its strongest assets which
should be maintained - not reduced - during this difficult financial
period; and
WHEREAS, There are alternatives to laying off station agents that the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority should consider to reduce costs
that have not been given careful consideration by the MTA; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, its Chairman and Board
of Directors, to consider and use alternatives to laying off its station
agents and other employees starting this week; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jay Walder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Metropol-
itan Transportation Authority, Andrew M. Saul, Vice-Chairman, Metropol-

itan Transportation Authority, and Michael Bloomberg, Mayor, New York
City.